KS2 Y6 Christmas powerpoint lesson of 39 slides. Secret Agent Academy is a lesson (s) set in a ‘real’ Christmas context where pupils are ‘trained’ for a special mission to catch a villain. They create Agent Code Names and numbers, work as part of an Agent Cell, take an oath of secrecy and create common experiences eg a secret handshake. Their mission consists of 4 tasks which include cracking Substitution and Caesar codes linked to Maths problem solving challenges (equivalent numbers, comparing fractions with different denominators, sequences, missing numbers and ordering, patterns and calculations). Slides 2-9 include an introduction to cracking codes and a go at deciphering a real code sent by Mary Queen of Scots before pupils enter the Secret Agent Academy. The Maths challenge resources are included on the slides as well as information for further teaching resource websites on Codes and Ciphers. Learning Objectives To save Christmas by: Using Maths to solve problems in a real-life situation. Appling a simple Substitution Code and Caesar Cipher to solve messages. Solving problems using missing numbers, equivalent numbers, number facts and place value. Applying operations and inverses using Substitution codes. Identifying specific knowledge of English Grammar such as high frequency letters, consonants, patterns and clusters of letters, short words and frequent pre/suffixes.

New Year 2024 KS1 & 2 Power-point lesson which can be used as a single lesson, assembly or as a stimulus for cross curricular work. 21 slides presented in simple text focusing on New Year greetings (in different languages) and historical information. The lesson encourages pupils to work in small groups of three / four to discuss and explain questions about the images and information presented on the slides. Slides include information on Janus the Roman God of new beginnings, reviewing the previous year and resolutions for the forthcoming year. There are a range of humorous images demonstrating resolutions and prompting ideas for pupils to use. Pupils are encouraged to record their resolutions, refer to them daily and try to stick to them!

Y 5 & 6 KS2 Christmas Maths Booklet I made this booklet based upon similar Level 4 SATs questions but with a Christmas theme. It is targeted at Years 5 & 6 for practise in the areas below. There are 50 questions altogether in the booklet. Each topic has a learning objective for pupils to match against their targets. The questions are set out in a simple format with spaces for pupils to write answers and show workings and calculations. Christmas pictures are included alongside the questions which are practical and fun. Answer sheet provided at the end of the booklet. Pages 1 &2: Proportion and Ratio. 12 questions. Learning objective: I can solve ratio and proportion questions by working out the relationships between numbers. Page 3: Checking the cost of Christmas (calculations). 3 questions. Learning objective: I can check a calculation. Page 4: Factors and Multiples. 5 questions. Learning objective: I can multiply pairs of factors to make a given number. Page 5: Multiplication and Division. 5 questions. Learning objective: I can use times tables. Page 6: Multiplication and Division. 5 questions. Learning objective: I can multiply and divide by 10 or 100. Page 7: Using a calculator. 5 questions. Learning objective: I can use a calculator to work out calculations and solve problems. Page 8: Christmas Maths: Measurement. 5 questions. Learning objective: I know which units of measurement to use for length, mass and capacity. Page 9: Tables and charts. 2 questions. Learning objective: I can show information in a chart and interpret what that information means. Page 10: Tables and charts. 3 questions. Learning objective: I can show information in a chart and interpret what that information means. Page 11: Number Patterns. 5 questions. Learning objective: I can recognise patterns in numbers and can explain the pattern.

Christmas comprehension cards. Set of 20. KS1/lower KS2. Each card includes a simple description about a Christmas related tradition, food or object and four questions for pupils to retrieve from the text. Simple layout for pupils to find information easily and an engaging picture of each subject on the card. Can also be used without the comprehension questions as a reference resource for pupils to research a Christmas topic independently. Comprehension card topics: Snow, reindeer, Christmas tree, Christmas pudding, presents, Father Christmas, holly, robin, Christmas stocking, Christmas pyjamas, mistletoe, mince pies, crackers, pantomime, Christmas cards, Christmas cake, lights, Christmas dinner.

Bonfire night and the Gunpowder Plot Y2 & KS2 power-point lesson of 39 slides. The power-point can be divided into separate sections depending on how you want to follow up some of the aspects/features depending on your class. Each set of slides includes paired discussion or individual/ paired written follow up tasks or worksheets. There are a range of strategies to keep the content interesting and interactive. Slides 1-5 introduce the topic with a 3-clue riddle, slides 6&7 focus on a sentence starter activity and worksheet about Bonfire Night. Slides 9&10 focus on names of fireworks and a youtube clip. Slides 11-14 introduce Guy Fawkes followed by a worksheet with a simple maths calculation to work out the age of GF when he died and a geography map activity to label his birthplace. Slides 15-17: ‘Remember, remember’ rhyme and dictionary activity. Slides 18-31 focus on the story of the Gunpowder Plot plus 2 worksheet activities (identify the plotters from a source and give advice to GF about the ‘weaknesses’ of his plot. Slide 32: Speech bubbles conversation worksheet. Slide 33-35: Guy Fawkes punishment and a ‘was it fair?’ written task. Slides 36-39: A brief introduction to Onomatopoeia and a firework scene task.

Famous artists and paintings cards. Set of 60 cards with a painting by a range of inspirational and well-known artists. The cards can be used to encourage recognition of the most well-known artists and their work. I have included a few examples of sculpture, stained glass, pottery, design. The images I have chosen range from 11th to 20th century from worldwide artists. Pupils can use them as a paired or group ‘guessing game’. Can be placed in the class library area or the ‘Early Finisher’ box/tray. I have used these to help pupils develop work on or research about a famous piece of artwork that they like by finding images of other work by the same artist or derivatives of that style, writing a descriptive piece about the work or a subjective paragraph about what the work means to them. Can be used by Y2 -Y6. Useful for topics on Art, Famous Paintings/Artists, using art as a starting point for writing or historical reference.

Bats KS1 Weekly planning grid This is two-week (could be stretched to three weeks depending on the depth of study) cross curricular plan for a KS1 topic based on the subject of ‘Bats’. I have used this plan as a run up to Halloween. It has been planned to include all the learning objectives and ideas for two weeks of teaching and includes differentiated planning in Literacy and Numeracy for HA, MA and LA groups. Includes non-negotiable vocabulary and linked learning activities in all subjects. Links well with topics on ‘Animals’, ‘Halloween’, ‘Conservation’ and ‘Day and Night or Nocturnal Animals.’

Bats fact sheet. Includes information about bat anatomy, habitats, Micro and Megabats and echolocation broken into short easy to read sections with pictures and photos. A great topic which can be linked to Halloween, animal topics and conservation. I have used this with pupils in Years 1-4 to help them retrieve information / develop their knowledge to write about bats in different genres (science report, non-fiction etc). I have also used it with a guided reading group and a set of questions linked to the topic followed up with a written comprehension exercise.

A simple scaffolded template for pupils to write their own witch spell for Halloween.

Two wordsearch grids with answers. Aimed at KS1/2. Simple format for pupils to cross out or circle the answers.

A fun quiz for Halloween on 32 separate cards which have been differentiated into three levels: 1 star - easy, 2 stars - average, 3 stars - hard so you can award extra points or target specific pupils with leveled questions.

Local study Traffic problems set of 4 worksheets. KS2. Worksheet 1: Pupil traffic survey for pupils to investigate traffic flow on a street nearest to their school (morning, lunchtime, afternoon). The worksheet is simple to use with pictures for easy completion. Pupils count using a tally. Great for small group with an adult. I used this and gave a different group of 6 the task on a specific day of the week. All pupils had a chance to carry out the survey. By the end of the week, we had a picture of the road traffic problems over the course of a week at three different times of the day. Was great for comparison work. Worksheet 2: A set of follow up questions stemming from the survey plus 4 questions asking pupils their opinions about the road after the survey eg how safe do you feel riding a bike on this road? Worksheet 3: Problems caused by traffic through a picture/phrase matching task. Worksheet 4: Improving traffic issues by using road signs in town centres. Links well with work on Cities, Transport, Local Study.

A set of four creepy pictures for pupils to describe using spooky vocabulary and phrases. Useful for writing a single descriptive paragraph rather than a whole story. Great to link to topics on ‘Halloween’, Night and Day, Darkness, Sci-Fi etc

How to write a biography. Upper KS2. Set of five complete lessons with all worksheets and pupil resources. Includes a Biography checklist, sample biographies about Queen Victoria and Nelson Mandela, a blank biography spider-gram, blank planning templates (scaffolded) and a fact sheet about Mary Anning. The series of lessons include opportunities for pupils to give peer feedback and analyse two sample biographies. I have used these with Y5 and Y6 and have also extended the unit to include famous people which the children asked for or who we were covering in topic work eg Louis Pasteur, famous explorers/sports achievers. Learning objectives. Lesson 1 • To explain what a ‘biography’ is in my own words. • To name people who have had a biography written about them. • To list the features of a biography. • To identify the features in a short biography of a famous person. Lesson 2 • To explain what a ‘biography’ is in my own words. • To recall the features of a biography. • To plan then write a biography about someone in my family and use the checklist to include the main features. • To give helpful feedback to my partner. Lesson 3 • To read a biography about Nelson Mandela. • To use the Biography Checklist and identify whether the main features have been included in the biography about Nelson Mandela. • To identify areas where the biography could be improved. Lesson 4 • To choose a famous person for a biography. • To plan your ideas on a writing frame and listen to the feedback about the features from your partner. • To write an interesting biography which includes all of the main features. Lesson 5 • To use the factsheet about Mary Anning, taking out information which would be interesting in a biography. • To write an interesting biography about Mary Anning which includes all of the main features of a biography.

Day of the Dead Mexican pp lesson with activities and worksheet resources. Learning objectives I know what’ El Día de Los Muertos’ means in English. I can say which language it is translated from and where the celebration originates. I know where Mexico is located on a map. I can explain the features on the Mexican flag. I can name the objects placed on the Day of the Dead altars. I can explain the symbols and rituals carried out by the Mexican people on the specific celebration days. I can describe how sugar skulls are made and why they are important. I can write a non-chronological report using my knowledge about ‘The Day of the Dead’ celebration. Includes six pupil worksheets, opportunities for partner work, simple map task and links to You Tube clips about the celebration and how to make ‘papel picado’. Great KS2 lesson as a stand-alone or as part of a series of lessons with a cross curricular topic eg Mexico, Aztecs, Halloween, Celebrations etc

Aztecs 3 Factsheets KS2 Factsheet 1 Simple facts about who the Aztecs were, where they came from, where they settled. Factsheet 2 Aztec gods and a brief description. Factsheet 3 Where the Aztecs settled and the end of their civilization. Includes key events broken into short easy to read sections with pictures and photos. I have used this with pupils in Years 5 & 6 to help them retrieve information / develop their knowledge to write about a famous civilization in a range of genres (newspaper report, non-fiction report, letter or diary writing, fiction, etc). I have also used it with a guided reading group and a set of questions linked to the topic followed up with a written comprehension exercise.

A simple scaffolding template for a pupil letter to a new teacher at the start of term. Can be used for Y2-Y6 depending on ability. Useful as a prompt for pupils to introduce themselves to their new class teacher . Structured to cover the main areas pupils usually want teachers to know about and can be used as a starting point for ‘Guess who?’ games and encouraging friendships between pupils with similar tastes and hobbies.

Florence Nightingale Famous person fact sheet. Includes key events and important stages in their life broken into short easy to read sections with pictures and photos. I have used this with pupils in Years 1-4 to help them retrieve information / develop their knowledge to write about a famous person in a range of genres (newspaper report, biography, letter or diary writing, fiction, non-fiction etc). I have also used it with a guided reading group and a set of questions linked to the topic followed up with a written comprehension exercise.